diff --git a/sys/niimaq/gstniimaq.c b/sys/niimaq/gstniimaq.c
index 10cb879..8c58160 100644
--- a/sys/niimaq/gstniimaq.c
+++ b/sys/niimaq/gstniimaq.c
@@ -684,6 +684,9 @@ gst_niimaqsrc_create (GstPushSrc * psrc, GstBuffer ** buffer)
 
 error:
   {
+    /* make sure we return an error */
+    if (ret == GST_FLOW_OK)
+      ret = GST_FLOW_ERROR;
     return ret;
   }
 }